PINELLAS PARK, Fla.— Transitions Optical has announced the finalists of the Transitions HR Visionary of the Year award, which recognizes and rewards employers who are promoting healthy vision to their workforce through superior vision benefit offerings and employee education. This is the first year for the award, which is co-sponsored by the Institute for HealthCare Consumerism (IHC), as part of its annual Solutions Superstars awards.

The winner will be announced during a special awards ceremony culminating with the annual Transitions Academy event, held in Orlando, Fla. in January, with an anticipated 1,000 optical industry professionals and 140 managed vision care industry professionals in attendance. The managed vision care professionals will also participate in the 6th annual managed vision care education track for vision plan providers, benefits brokers and HR professionals—themed “Fire Up Your Vision Promotion Game Plan.”

The three finalists for 2012 HR Visionary of the Year award are Cyndee Blue of Everence Financial, Steve Browne of Wiginton Corporation and Maurice Evans of The Integral Group LLC.

“With the introduction of this award program, we have the opportunity to recognize employers who—amidst enormous cost-cutting pressures—have whole-heartedly adopted the vision benefit as part of their strategy to offer a true value add to employees, while also boosting the health and productivity of their workforce,” said Smith Wyckoff, key account manager, managed vision care and online retail, Transitions Optical.

“We are pleased to kick off the HR Visionary of the Year award program with three stellar finalists, who have shown a commitment to offering quality vision plans, and to educating employees on the importance of annual eye exams and wearing the right eyewear, so employees can see and feel their best on and off the job,” he said.